TThe No. 45 car circling the track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend carried more than just a familiar design — it was the Kurt Busch tribute scheme unveiled by 23XI Racing. It carried a reminder of how much one driver helped shape the early days of 23XI Racing.
The team revealed a Kurt Busch tribute scheme, bringing back the Jordan Brand elephant-print look Busch drove during the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season.
The timing and location made the moment even more fitting. Las Vegas is Busch’s hometown track, the same place where the 2004 Cup Series champion first built his reputation as one of NASCAR’s fiercest competitors.
While Busch’s time behind the wheel for 23XI lasted only a single season, the impact he had on the young organization remains visible today.
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Tyler Reddick Reacts to 23XI’s Kurt Busch Tribute Scheme
Current driver Tyler Reddick said Busch helped establish the foundation for the No. 45 team long before Reddick took over the ride.
“I mean, he kind of set the table for me, really,” Reddick said. “He was a part of that process of putting together the 45 team. Obviously there’s been a couple changes over the years, but he played a huge role in where this team started out.”
Kurt Busch Delivered an Early Win for 23XI Racing
Busch joined 23XI Racing in 2022 as the organization’s second full-time driver alongside Bubba Wallace. At the time, the team co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan was still establishing itself in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The veteran driver immediately helped accelerate that process.
Busch delivered the organization’s second Cup Series victory when he won at Kansas Speedway in 2022, proving the young team could compete with NASCAR’s established powerhouses.
Even after injuries forced Busch to step away from full-time competition later that season, his influence inside the organization continued to shape the team’s development.
Busch’s Influence Still Shapes the Team
Crew chief Billy Scott said having Busch in the garage during those early months helped the team grow quickly.
“They had a really good basis,” Scott said. “But when you’re trying to add that much in that time period, it was very important to have a Hall of Fame driver in the lineup to get people to come over and start a team from scratch.”
Scott said Busch’s leadership extended far beyond the driver’s seat.
“Everybody that’s ever worked with him has found value in him being there because he does care about everybody,” Scott said. “He’s one of the most genuinely good people you’ll ever meet, and just building the team camaraderie of the culture that they wanted to have, where everybody works together and helps each other out, he’s kind of the definition of that.”
For Wallace, Busch’s support remains one of the most important parts of his experience at 23XI.
“Kurt has always believed in me,” Wallace said. “He’s always a phone call or text away anytime I need him. That made for a remarkable first teammate.”
Even though Busch is no longer racing full time, he remains closely connected with the organization and still offers guidance to the team’s drivers and crew members.
Reddick said that ongoing presence continues to matter.
“Now that he’s not the driver, he still wants to see the team do very, very well,” Reddick said. “That’s just the kind of guy he is.”
The tribute scheme unveiled in Las Vegas served as a reminder of how much Busch contributed during 23XI Racing’s early seasons.
And at his hometown track, the message from the team was clear: the foundation he helped build is still driving the organization forward.
23XI Racing Reveals Kurt Busch Tribute Scheme at Las Vegas